Preserving Rainforest A World Interest, Says Minister

KOTA KINABALU (Sabah, Malaysia), July 9 (Bernama) -- State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Masidi Manjun has applauded the continuous collaboration between Yayasan Sabah and NEPCon, for the management of Maliau Basin Conservation Area (MBCA) for the next 10 years. "Such collaboration between two different countries is most welcome, especially between the rich and developed countries with a developing country like Malaysia. "It is in the world’s interest that we cooperate in preserving the rainforest and our natural environment," he said. Masidi was speaking at the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Yayasan Sabah and NEPCon, a non-profit organisation in Denmark, on the revision of MBCA Management Plan 2014-2023, here. He said NEPCon undertook the responsibility in collaborating with East Malaysia stat of Sabah in the preparation of the MBCA Management Plan 10 years ago on behalf of the Government of Denmark. “This time they took their own initiative in support of Yayasan Sabah to raise funding to review the MBCA strategic management plan which expired in 2012. “I encourage more people from the Scandinavian countries to collaborate closely with the government in environmental fields of strategic projects, which not only influence the State but the global community too,” he said. NEPCon was approached for assistance when the MBCA Strategic Management Plan 2003 expired in 2012 and the latter secured funding amounting to Euro294,875 (about RM1,179,500) from Aage V. Jansen Foundation, Denmark, for the purpose. The minister also thanked IKEA, a Swedish organisation involved in environmental projects, for becoming one of Yayasan Sabah’s biggest sponsors of its conservation programmes in the MBCA, including forest restoration and rehabilitation which was initiated through IKEA in 1998. “Despite having no store in Sabah, IKEA has been in the state for the last 10 years, providing not only conservation to pristine areas but forest rehabilitation. "Malaysia in general and Sabah, in particular, is appreciative of the very crucial contribution that the Scandinavian countries, Denmark and Sweden have given to Sabah," Masidi said. -- BERNAMA